Department of the Interior 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Coastal Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below:

The National Park Service is revising the special regulations for Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park to close the core Dyea Historic Townsite to the use of horses except by special use permit issued by the superintendent.

ONRR will convene a technical conference on November 20, 2015, to discuss two issues: (1) The appropriate boundary line between the North Fort Berthold and South Fort Berthold Designated Areas and adding additional counties to one or both of the two Designated Areas in the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. Date And Address: ONRR will hold two sessions for the technical conference. The first session will be held in person on November 20, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time in Denver, Colorado. The location will be at the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, Denver Federal Center, 6th Avenue and Kipling Street, Building 85, Auditoriums A-D, Denver, Colorado 80226. The second session will be a teleconference on November 20, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time. To call into the second session please call 1-866-778-1299, and use participant code 5826518. To RSVP for either one of these two sessions, please email Elizabeth Dawson at lisa.dawson@onrr.gov or call (303) 231-3653. If you cannot participate in either session and would like to provide comments, please email us at ONRRIndianOilRuleQuestions@onrr.gov by November 30, 2015.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and the National Forest Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are jointly announcing the availability of the Jordan Cove Energy and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline (PCGP) Projects Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Proposed Land Management Plan amendments, and by this notice are announcing their availability.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availably of a draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the issuance of a take permit for golden eagles pursuant to the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act), in association with the operation of the Alta East Wind Project in Kern County, California. The DEA was prepared in response to an application from Alta Wind X, LLC (applicant), an affiliate of NRG Yield, Inc., for a 5-year programmatic take permit for golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) under the Eagle Act. The applicant would implement a conservation program to avoid, minimize, and compensate for the project's impacts to eagles, as described in the applicant's Eagle Conservation Plan (ECP). We invite public comment on the DEA, which evaluates alternatives for this permit decision.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our draft recovery plan for the Gila chub, which is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This fish species is currently found in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and in northern Mexico. The draft recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met in order to enable us to remove this species from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. We request review and comment on this plan from local, State, and Federal agencies; Tribes; and the public. We will also accept any new information on the status of the Gila chub throughout its range to assist in finalizing the recovery plan.

On October 21, 2015, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announced receipt of an application from Kaufman Real Estate LLC, Kaufman Holdings Inc., and Liberty Leasing & Construction, Inc. (applicants), for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The notice contained an incorrect comment-period end date. The correct date is December 21, 2015. With this notice, we correct that error. If you sent a comment previously, you need not re-send the comment.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), as lead agency, through the Buffalo Field Office, Buffalo, Wyoming, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for EOG Resources Inc.'s (EOG's) proposed Greater Crossbow Oil and Gas Project (Project). The proposal area includes Federal lands administered by the BLM's Buffalo and Casper Field Offices and the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) Thunder Basin National Grasslands. This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS and potential land use plan amendments. The purpose of the public scoping process is to seek input and identify issues regarding the Project.

We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States Office, Washington, DC, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

We are proposing to update our service-wide regulations governing the exercise of non-federal oil and gas rights, to improve our ability to protect park resources, values, and visitors from potential impacts associated with non-federal oil and gas operations located within National Park Service units. The proposed rule would also make the regulations consistent with existing policies and practices, and update the format to improve clarity and simplify application and compliance for oil and gas operators and our employees.

Notice is hereby given that the Indian Gaming Compact between the State of New Mexico and the Pueblo of Santa Clara governing Class III gaming (Compact) is taking effect.

Notice is hereby given that the Indian Gaming Compact between the State of New Mexico and the Pueblo of Laguna governing Class III gaming (Compact) is taking effect.

This publishes notice of the extension of the Class III gaming compact between the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and the State of Nevada.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northwest Resource Advisory Council (RAC) Travel Management Sub-Group will meet as indicated below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have issued the following permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. We issue these permits under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

The National Park Service is amending its regulations for sport hunting and trapping in national preserves in Alaska. This rule provides that the National Park Service does not adopt State of Alaska management actions or laws or regulations that authorize taking of wildlife, which are related to predator reduction efforts (as defined in this rule). This rule affirms current State prohibitions on harvest practices by adopting them as federal regulation. The rule also prohibits the following activities that are allowed under State law: Taking any black bear, including cubs and sows with cubs, with artificial light at den sites; taking brown bears and black bears over bait; taking wolves and coyotes during the denning season; harvest of swimming caribou or taking caribou from a motorboat while under power; and using dogs to hunt black bears. The rule also simplifies and updates procedures for closing an area or restricting an activity in National Park Service areas in Alaska; updates obsolete subsistence regulations; prohibits obstructing persons engaged in lawful hunting or trapping; and authorizes the use of native species as bait for fishing.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will officially file the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States Office, Washington DC at least 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, make available the draft environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act regarding a permit application submitted by Dallas Zoo Management, on behalf of the Dallas Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, and Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. The three zoos are requesting authorization under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to import 18 live African elephants from Swaziland.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Kaufman Real Estate LLC, Kaufman Holdings Inc., and Liberty Leasing & Construction, Inc. (applicants), for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The applicants request a 20-year ITP that would authorize ``take'' of five listed species incidental to otherwise lawful land development and habitat conservation activities on parcels they own in Thurston County, Washington. The application includes a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP), which describes the actions the applicants will take to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the take on covered species. The Service also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) addressing the draft HCP and proposed permit. We invite comments from all interested parties regarding the permit application, including the draft HCP and EA.

The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dunes Wilderness Act, Public Law 96-585, December 23, 1980, designated approximately 1,360 acres as wilderness in the Fire Island National Seashore. Due to existing boardwalks and a pit toilet, this Act also designated approximately 18 acres of potential wilderness within Fire Island National Seashore that could be re-designated as wilderness upon elimination of these non- conforming uses. The National Park Service (NPS) described the wilderness and potential wilderness areas on maps entitled ``Wilderness PlanFire Island National Seashore,'' dated December 1980. In November 1983, the NPS adopted the ``Wilderness Management Plan, Fire Island National Seashore'' which also contained the legal description of the wilderness boundaries and a map showing the wilderness and the potential wilderness areas. On October 12, 1999, 17 acres of potential wilderness were re-designated as wilderness (see Federal Register Vol. 64, No. 196). On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy moved through Fire Island National Seashore, destroying the boardwalk nature trail west of the Wilderness Visitor Center, the boardwalk dune crossing, and pit toilet at Old Inlet. The footprint of the two boardwalks and pit toilet is infrastructure that existed within the boundaries of the remaining one acre (more or less) of potential wilderness, entirely in Federal ownership. Upon destruction, the non-conforming uses of this potential wilderness addition were eliminated. Section (C) of the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dunes Wilderness Act authorized the Secretary of the Interior to designate administratively as wilderness any lands previously designated as potential wilderness upon publication in the Federal Register of a notice that all uses thereon that are inconsistent with the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Pub. L. 88-577) have ceased. Accordingly, this notice hereby converts the one acre of potential wilderness in the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, within Fire Island National Seashore, to designated wilderness. The one acre (more or less) shall be added to the 1,379 acres of designated wilderness within the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, and managed in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964. The maps and legal description are on file at the headquarters of the Fire Island National Seashore, 120 Laurel Street, Patchogue, NY 11772, and at the Office of the Director, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240.

The Department of Interior (Department) has accepted retrocession to the United States of partial civil and criminal jurisdiction over the Yakama Nation from the State of Washington.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Bibb County, Alabama for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for the 15 years following approval of the Final CCP.

The Wisconsin Historical Society, Museum Division, has completed an inventory of human remains in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request to the Wisconsin Historical Society. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

We are approving an amendment to the Kentucky regulatory program (the Kentucky program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). As a result of OSMRE's review of the Kentucky program, OSMRE has determined that two previously required amendments, 30 CFR 917.16(e) and (h), are to be removed because Kentucky's program, with regard to Ownership and Control (O&C), and Transfer, Assignment or Sale of Permit Rights (TAS) is now consistent with SMCRA and the corresponding Federal regulations.